Home / Decorating ideas / decorating misc.
pam kueber - August 6, 2011, Updated: August 9, 2011
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
In my recent story about a groovy pole lamp-room divider with built-in shelves, I indicated concern about vases and collectibles getting bumped off the shelves. Demonstrating yet again just how knowledgeable and helpful our readers are, Bungalow Bill — who is an expert in vintage tile — immediately informed us about a product to help stick the vases or collectibles right onto those shelves:
There is a product called ‘Quakehold’, which is a museum putty made to secure objects. It is removable, reusable, and doesn’t harm furniture.
Well, this sounds fabulous indeed. I had mentioned using poster putty (meant to tack posters onto walls), but my husband in fact hates that stuff, because he says it dries out and also pulls the surface of drywall off. QuakeHold, on the other, hand, promises that is it removeable and reuseable. Here is what the makers of QuakeHold say about Museum Putty:
Museum Putty is an award-winning product that secures antiques, collectibles, figurines and more from falling and breaking. It can be used on most surfaces, including ceramics, porcelains and laminates, as well as on walls to help stabilize pictures. It comes ready to use in a two-and-a-half ounce flat sleeve, just pull off what you need.Roll the putty into small balls (about the size of a pea), or strips, and apply to the base of an item.
If you read the Amazon comments, you also see folks are using this for a variety of other purposes, including as:
- A way to get candles to stand upright…
- A way to secure the bottom edges of framed photos and artwork so that they don’t jiggle and hang level…
- A way to keep wrought iron wall decor from rattling…
- A way to sort of ‘pin down’ computer cables adjacent to a wall, or the same idea with electric cables along a mantle…
- A way to secure toy train tracks to a wood floor… or speakers to stands… even guidelines to secure a squirrel baffle on a bird-feeder…
- A way to secure 1″ mirror tiles and small framed pieces in an exhibition space…
- And yes, instead of poster putty to secure posters to the wall.
Note, also, that there are two other products — QuakeHold Wax and QuakeHold Gel — which are recommended for several other materials:
Depending on what types of items are to be secured, and on what kinds of surfaces they will be positioned, here are some recommendations as to which adhesive to choose. In the case of china, pottery, ceramic, or wooden items the putty is preferred. For crystal and glassware use the clear gel, and for anything being secured on a more permanent basis on wooden shelves the wax is a good option.
Read the instructions carefully… Note, I have not tried this product myself — and there ARE some negative comments on Amazon.
Where to buy QuakeHold? How about right from here, from my Amazon link (above)? If you do, I get an itsy spiff — which helps keep the blog boat afloat.
Reader Interactions
6 comments
Comments
barb says
In reference to comments about quake hold staining wood, please read the instructions, which warn that this can happen on some surfaces. This product works best on IMPERMEABLE surfaces, where staining and removal are not problems. It is used in museums to keep fragile items from moving out of place in exhibits. It is designed for normal residential temperatures, so extreme heat can affect it – because it is not designed for those conditions. If you try to push any product beyond its design limits, of course you will be disappointed. But you should be disappointed in yourself, not the product which you misused.
EricB says
i swear by this stuff, it has a million and one uses, limited only by your imagination… only complaint? when my partner finds the used little pieces I’ve grafted onto odd spots, post use… and thinks they’re wads of chewed gum!
Paula says
My grandmother had a thing for floral clay (I am guessing this product is similar, it sounds exactly the same). She put in on the bottoms of everything and after a while it was impossible to get off. My vote would be for toupe tape, which is awesome (and is used in the film industry to secure wireless microphones and to keep tops from showing too much cleavage)
Lisa Coleman says
Go to a wig store and buy toupe tape. They are little clear, crescent-shaped double-sided tape slices that do not ruin wood. They cost almost nothing. This tip was given to me by a ceramics shop owner years and years ago…and it works. I’ve never had it stain anything.
MCM is Grand says
Quakehold is great in some situations! However…my experience has taught me it can stain wood finishes. It is best used on glass or metal shelves. Also, the clear gel version will melt and “run” if a room’s temperature is hot enough. After several months, the quakehold can harden and has to be pried off (like gum under a table). So, buyer beware!
BungalowBILL says
There is even a more obscure use for the product. In butterfly exhibits it is used to attach the purchased chrysalis to the top of a container so it can hang naturally and let the butterfly pupa inside develop and hatch properly.
